Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-04-29
THEY Do REFLECT.

The Church organ innocently pro-
pounds the conundrum, "Do the young
men of Utah ever reflect upon the posi-
bilities within their reach?" Yes, of
course they do, as is evidenced by the
withdrawal OF hundreds of the most in
telligent Of those of Mormon parentage
from the religious and political dictation
OF the Church and State priesthood.
They have not only, as they arrived at
the age of reason, become disgusted with
the pernicious practices, and absurd
superstitions OF Mormonism, but their
intelligence teaches them that they can
never attain any political position of
prominence, while shackled with the
fetters which bind them to an institution
which is denounced by all civilized
Nations on the face of the earth. There
are thousands of others who only require
little encouragement and the oppor-
tunity, to sever their connection with the
institution which they realize must be
divested of its power before Utah can
ever arise to the dignity of Statehood.
They notice that the best class of Gen
tiles who come to Utah, without preju-
dice or feelings of unfriendliness to-
wards Mormons, when they become ac-
quainted from personal observation,
with its practices, methods and infamies,
GhOrf fipoa ft,1lx,
in their opposition to them as
those who have for years been
victims of Mormon prosecutions, and suf-
ferers from the Mormon obstruction
policy, which has so long and etfectually
retarded the advancement of the Terri
tory, and prevented its progress to the
position to which its resources entitle it.
There is large amount of material right
now in the Mormon ranks which can be
utilized as an important factor in effect
ing loyal rule in Utah. The young men
to which we have alluded, as awaiting an
opportunity to free themselves from eccle-
siastical and political bondage, complain
that they have received but little encour-
agement to attach themselves to either
OF the great National parties of the day.
Many of them have never heard anything
except Mormonism and anti-Mormon-
ism discussed, and while they have
ascertained that both parties are
equally opposed to the political domina-
tion of the priesthood, they are ignorant
of the issues which divide the two, and
consequently do not know which to
choose as the one the most nearly repre-
senting their ideas of National political
policy. The thorough organization of
both of the parties, and the free discus
sion of these matters would interest and
instruct these young men, and they would
be able to judge as to which National Or
ganization they would desire to attach
themselves. Every recruit from this
class-and there would be hundreds and
probably thousands of them-would be
vote lost to the priesthood and one gained
to the loyal cause. Then the adoption of
the policy favored by large number of
the most unselfsh, sincere and intelli-
gent Gentiles of both parties, which
has been enunciated through the col
umns of THE DEMOCRAT, will insure COM
plete unity of what has been denominated
as the Liberal vote, lagely, increased by
accessions from the ranks of the enemy.
The young men of Utah are "rehecting
upon the future possibilities within their
reach" and the result of their reflection is
what the tithe-eaters have cause to fear.
If the loyalists of Utah pursue iudicious
course, there will be such an exodus
from the so-called Peoples party as will
confound its leaders and astonish the
most sanguine Gentle in Utah.